Having supplied tea, gingernuts and Hobnobs, Hogarth set out the two contracts on the coffee table before them.
‘So ... here’s the official one: standard form.’
‘Do I have to swear allegiance to the Queen or sign the Official Secrets Act?’ Amanda asked solemnly.
Mike grinned. ‘No, my dear, that will not be necessary. Just read it through. You’ll see it makes no reference at all to magic.’
She sat and went through the document.
‘Yes, that all seems in order.’ He handed Amanda a pen, and she signed her name.
‘Good. You’ll see that all of this does recognise that you do still have a business to run.’
‘I appreciate that. Oh, will I have a job title?’ she asked with interest.
‘You already have one,’ stated Hogarth.
‘I do?’ she asked with surprise.
‘Yes: Witch.’
That made her giggle.
‘Except no one knows,’ Amanda pointed out.
‘We know,’ Hogarth responded. ‘Right. Now we come to what really is the important document. It should be all that you would wish.’
Amanda smiled. ‘You sound very confident.’
‘Yes, I wrote it,’ Hogarth replied with aplomb.
‘Oh, then I trust you,’ she answered, reaching for the pen. But Hogarth picked it up quickly.
‘No, no, my dear. What would your watchful solicitor, Erik, say if you went about signing things you hadn’t read and taken advice on?’
‘True,’ Amanda acknowledged.
‘Now you sit there and read it, while I put some hot water in the teapot.’
When he returned, she looked up at him enquiringly.
‘Erm ... this paragraph here.’ He sat down beside her on the sofa, and she turned the page toward him. ‘About accepting “the risk of death by magical means”. I understand most of it, but what does this word mean? The one after “petrification” and before “mortification”.’
‘You mean “lignification?”’
‘Turned to wood?’ Amanda hazarded.
‘Yes. Not everyone survives that,’ replied Hogarth matter-of-factly.
‘Oh ... and is that likely?’
‘No,’ he assured her. ‘These are all highly unlikely eventualities, but it’s good to be aware of the possibilities.’
‘I see. And about life insurance. I mean, I have no dependents. I’m leaving everything to Aunt Amelia. It has to be another witch, what with the cottage being full of wands and grimoires and so forth.’
‘Quite. But really it’s just a formality. It will be arranged for you.’
‘I see.’ Amanda read on. ‘So I — we report to you?’ she enquired.
‘In principle,’ Hogarth modified, ‘but my role is more of a consultant than a boss. You’ll be the people on the ground. Think of yourselves as an autonomous unit. But I can advise. And when it comes to magic, you are the expert. When the chips are down, you will have to make the hard choices. Just as you’ve done so far. The difference is that, whenever possible, you will consult your partner, Inspector Trelawney, and act in conjunction with his efforts.’
‘What’s this about mutual development?’ Amanda asked a little suspiciously.
‘Thomas has magical potential, does he not?’
‘Yes, I think he does, only’ — she looked at Mike anxiously — ‘I think too that the inspector disapproves of magic. It’s like he thinks it’s cheating to use it.’
‘Not surprising really is it? Given that he believes it broke up his parents’ marriage and having grown up with his mother’s understandable prejudices against it. But perhaps you can help him get over that. And in return,’ Hogarth went on carefully, mindful of Trelawney’s animadversions on Amanda’s lack of ability to read people or indeed notice them at all, ‘he may be able to help you to develop your detective skills.’
‘Oh, I’d like that! I’ve always wanted to learn how to dust for fingerprints.’
‘That’s not quite what I meant but never mind. So, anything else?’
She gave it another look over.
‘I think that’s everything.’
‘You will have seen, my dear, that it places no restrictions on the nature of the relationship between yourself and your partner.’
‘Um ... hmm. No, no it doesn’t does it?’ Amanda replied a trifle awkwardly.
‘I have said this before but forgive me if I repeat it. It will be to everyone’s advantage if you and the inspector allow yourself to be friends.’
‘Well, I think we are. I mean, we can be now. Properly. Have been able to since the Cardiubarn case closed.’
‘And do you like that?’ Hogarth asked Amanda, kindly.
‘Yes, yes I do.’
‘When you’ve gone into dangerous situations and taken him, or at least allowed him to come with you, you’ve trusted him, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, absolutely.’
‘Do you think you could bring that trust into your everyday dealings with him?’
‘I know what you’re talking about, Uncle Mike. And don’t think I didn’t appreciate the way you got him out of the way, so I could do all the household magic without him seeing, and I know .... I will. When we get back. Give me a day or two to get settled back in and I will. I’ll take the inspector into my workshop and let him see what I do.’
‘Thank you, my dear. The connection between you is to everyone’s advantage, as I say. And, you know ... if it should at some point in the future, begin to develop into something extra ... you don’t have to pull it up like a weed.’
She looked into her tea, then up at Hogarth and answered with gleam of humour,
‘Well ... I promise not to spray the inspector with pesticide.’ Suddenly the slightly awkward moment passed as Amanda’s curiosity overcame her. ‘Uncle Mike, have you given the inspector the same lecture?’
He threw back his head and laughed. ‘Ask him!’
Amanda returned her attention to the contract.
‘All right. Have we covered everything?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ she confirmed.
Hogarth handed her the pen.
Amanda looked at him with a twinkle.
‘Sure this doesn’t have to be done at dead of night during
